Weapons

In most situations, you'll want to ignore this little pistol. Its power is lacking and it needs constant reloading. However, there are situations where the Snub comes into its own. While aiming, click the right analog stick in to zoom your view and shrink your aiming reticule, giving you a much more accurate shot. You can use this zoom to get head shots which actually deal decent damage.

Boltok Pistol

While the Boltok requires even more reloading than the already unreliable Snub, this pistol does benefit from added firepower making it more possible to get quick headshot kills. It's dangerous to try and use the Boltok in big firefights, but in one-on-one showdowns there's a use for the weapon. Just watch your ammo.

Hammerburst

Though it may not be as obviously menacing as the chainsaw-armed Lancer, this machinegun is arguably the better weapon. The Hammerburst features a higher damage rating than the Lancer, and during the single-player campaign you're likely to find lots more ammo for the Hammerburst than for any other weapon. The biggest downside here is that the Hammerburst fires in burst shots, making it less effective as suppressive fire and more demanding of precision aiming.

Lancer

Everyone's favorite machinegun-plus-chainsaw will be your primary weapon in both single- and multi-player events. The Lancer packs solid firepower and gives you an instant kill that's only a button press away. Be careful not to rely on the chainsaw, though—if you get shot even just once, you'll have to re-rev the engine before making a kill. Use the chainsaw only as a surprise attack.

Gnasher

The effectiveness of this shotgun depends entirely on the distance away from the enemy. Far away, the Gnasher is pretty much useless, and even in mid-range gun fights you'll have difficulty putting anyone down for the count. However, in close-up battles the Gnasher is king. A point-blank shot to the chest or head will result in an instant kill, making it a great surprise kill and chainsaw counter.

Longshot

Aim for anywhere but the head and the Longshot is useless, but center an enemy's skull in the sights of this sniper rifle and you've got a single-shot kill ready to unleash. While aiming, click the right analog stick to zoom in close for a long-range shot. Best of all, you'll remain zoomed even while taking enemy fire. Be patient, and this gun will reward you with exciting kills. Just be sure to nail the active reload, or you'll spend more time loading your weapon than firing.

Hammer of Dawn

The Hammer of Dawn is no ordinary weapon, and as such you shouldn't treat it like one. Do not use the Hammer while under direct fire—you'll likely die before the Hammer actually acquires a target. However, if you know the general area of your opponents, bring out the Hammer and sweep the beam across the stage. It's possible to kill multiple enemies at once (and deal massive damage to more powerful Locust) with this not-so-ordinary tool.

Boomshot

There's a good weapon hiding in the Boomshot, but it'll take a surprising amount of skill to find it. Despite what you may expect, the Boomshot does not have much of a blast radius. You'll need to be pretty pinpoint with your shots to deal the massive damage the weapon can deliver. Luckily, the Boomshot makes for a great melee weapon, and it'll scare the snot out of your enemies. Just don't rely on it in a pinch.

Torque Bow

Your average bow and arrow this is not—the Torque Bow packs an explosive punch that's capable of killing enemies in a single shot. Unfortunately, firing the Torque Bow is a slow process that requires you to hold the trigger for a couple of seconds before the shot becomes very effective. As well, you'll want to reserve it for stationary targets. Hitting enemies while they run is a very, very difficult endeavor.

Frag Grenade

Forget everything you've learned about frag grenades before—frags in Gears of War require very accurate aiming to make them effective. The blast radius from a frag is surprisingly small, requiring your tosses to be on point if you're looking for an instant kill. Perhaps the best use of a frag is with a melee attack. You'll stick a grenade to an enemy and a second later he'll explode. Be sure to dive away and avoid the blast from your grenade as it incinerates your target.

Smoke Grenade

We've been trying to find a really good use for smoke grenades, but haven't really discovered one. Smoke grenades can be used to confuse your opponents, but slick opponents will take advantage of the cover as much as you will. Perhaps the best use of the smoke grenades is as a diversion. Toss one out and watch as enemies run far, far away. If you've got teammates flanking the opponents, smoke grenades are a good way to scare out the other team.